6 Returning and Unwanted Beings

Slagar would follow Arlow for 5 years, learning what he taught to him. Throughout this time, Slagar never felt hungry or thirsty. He would sleep every 24 hours and his body's needs were sustained by Arlow by drawing what he needed from the Materium. Slagar grew used to the hymns that were sung from the energies of the Immaterium and his mind was clearer than ever before.

He abandoned his honor obsession during this time and respected Arlow for teaching him. He realized just how generous Arlow was and he began to take for granted the time he spent in his company. The peaceful and patient spirit he always followed around and called teacher, would not always be there. And the day of their separation was today.

Slagar felt as if he was about to lose something important from this separation. Even though he had gained an understanding beyond anything he could have ever imagined, he realized that he most treasured his teacher's company. Arlow had passed on to Slagar everything he had learned, with the exception of soul faculty crafting, because Arlow seemed to be the only being able to do this.

Slagar learned Immaterium manipulation techniques which left the Great Counsel in the dust. He could manipulate biology, navigate and plot the Immaterium, and manipulate high-energy conversions of warp fire and lightning, and even the advanced arts. He was taught divination arts, despite his poor aptitude, and even the Quantum-matter formula Arlow himself had developed.

However, it would seem that it was too difficult for him alone to create any Quantum-matter and he would need to ask the Great Counsel for help again. In fact, Slagar had been thinking up quite a few advances from his Immaterium portal project with the addition of Quantum-matter. He dreamed of a great set of tunnels and pathways in the Immaterium, which could be used to support and stabilize his portals reliably. If it worked, it could go on to be the greatest creation of their civilization, even surpassing the title technology of Gorvor.

When he shared his thoughts and plans with Arlow, Arlow encouraged him and jokingly asked him what he would name it. Slagar had answered seriously, saying he would call it the Webway. It would be a great web spread throughout the Immaterium, facilitating stabile and fast travel and communication, in the Materium.

Arlow was intrigued by his plans and offered to help Slagar when he needed it, but Slagar declined his help, saying he hoped he could do this on his own. Despite not living for honor as much anymore, he wanted to make his teacher proud of him.

And so, with all these years of learning behind him, Slagar stood in front of his friend and teacher emotionally.

"Slagar, you have been good company," Arlow said with nostalgia in his voice.

"And you have changed me more than I would like to admit," Slagar said awkwardly.

"Slagar. If you need help in the future, no matter our relationship, I will help you. I am quite fond of you." Arlow said, with a hint of mystery.

"Alright, I'll definitely ask for your help when I need it. But can I ask something? It's been bothering me for a while... why must I leave?" Slagar asked, a bit sadly.

Since he learned that Arlow was sending him back to his homeworld he felt complicated. He was happy to return home, but he also knew that Arlow must have had a reason for sending him at this moment. He was not gifted in divination arts, so he would rather ask Arlow about the reason.

"Hmm. Some unwanted beings have been absorbed during the expansion of the Materium. I didn't notice since they had no reflection in the Immaterium, but now that I have, I need to plan accordingly." Arlow explained seriously.

"Unwanted beings?" Slagar prodded, curriously.

"It's nothing you need to worry about. There are powerful beings of pure energy that have appeared in the Materium, but they are no threat at the moment. They lack any ability to interact with the Materium other than absorbing high energy and radiation." Arlow further elaborated.

"Well, okay." Slagar nodded thoughtfully.

Since Arlow said they were not a threat at the moment, he didn't need to think much about it.

With a silence falling between them, Arlow moved his hand and manipulated the Quantum-matter silver sands to form a tunnel, connecting it to the portal inside the pyramid on his homeworld. The portal *wrred* to life, causing a far stabler portal than how he originally traveled here. There was no warp lightning or strange energy reactions caused by the tunnel, instead, it felt extremely smooth.

"Go Slagar, I'm sure you have a lot to do," Arlow said, pushing him towards the portal.

"Yes, I-Thank you, Teacher, for all you have taught me. *hiss*" Slagar said, while accidentally letting out a hiss from the emotional excitement.

"Goodbye Slagar, " Arlow said, with nostalgia.

With a wave of his hand, Slagar was pushed through the portal and the portal closed. Arlow was feeling better than he had ever felt in years. He felt contentment in his heart.

"Good company is a priceless gift," Arlow said, before releasing his control over the silver sand sea, returning it to its normal highly active and violent state.

Now, he had to plan how to prevent further unwanted beings in the void from being absorbed into the naturally expanding Materium. And also how he should deal with the ones that were already here. He walked off into the silver sand sea in contemplation and planning. This would take him a while.

...

Old Ones Homeworld, Year 1758 (OOC).

The signals of the Great Pyramid of Alintor lit up unprompted, causing the scientists and workers inside to send an emergency notice to the Great Counsel. The Great Counsel dispatched the nearby Honored One, Aleklec to support and investigate the cause of the disturbance. He had arrived only 15 minutes before the portal opened all on its own and a healthy Old One walked out of it. In astonishment, Aleklec scanned him with his psychic power to find that this Old One was only below his own psychic power.

He did not recognize Slagar, since Aleklec was the only absent Honored One from the ceremony 5 years ago. But that did not stop him from recognizing Slagar's friendliness and lack of hostility psychically.

"Stop. Who are you?" Aleklec asked.